Those new, energy-saving "twirly"-looking light bulbs -- will they FADE photos on walls, as fluorescents do?

Answer 1

I've been using them for years as well. I have a lamp on a table directly in front of and just below a Thomas Kinkade. It's been that way for four years and the painting has gone to appraisal twice for insurance purposes without any indication of lighting damage such as fading.
I also have several 16x24 photographs on the walls that are blow up's of 35 mm film slides and some from digital photo's. I've never had a problem with any of those either and some are "spotlighted" with those "twirly bulbs" as you call them...LOL, that's cute!
HOWEVER, that said, that's just my experience and I will tell you that my father is a professional photographer and he b*tches at me all the time for the way I've chosen to light and highlight my wall art for exactly the reason you have concerns. The only thing he's actually threatened me over is one of his 16x24's that I hung in such a way that it received direct sunlight for two hours every day. He threatened to take it back if I didn't move it RIGHT THEN AND THERE.
When in doubt I "spot" with a low wattage twirly bulb from a distance with a track type fixture or a directional can light base. There are small spots, very tiny things, that you can buy from art supply places now that boast safety in preserving artwork and photographs but they are expensive.
I'm no expert... I just know I like to see what I have on the wall and if I hang them in sunlight my Dad will take them all away! If you're photographs are valuable I would strongly suggest that you go to a specialty art store that sells framed prints and such and ask them to be sure.

Answer 2

Excellent question! In answer to your question though, I too have wondered if there is a trade-off. How damaging are the bulbs to the environment when they ARE finally disposed of? Just a point about choosing your energy saving lightbulbs. I noticed in the shop when buying my ones that the different brands offer bulbs that use the same 8W or 11W but there is a difference in the intensity of each brand/model. Look at the "Lumens" the bulb is rated at. The higher the Lumens, the more light you'll get for your Wattage and for your money. I have 11 of them in my apartment. I now pay 40 € for a two month electricity bill and that is with the microwave, washing machine, computer and TV. Most of my friends pay something like 100 € or 120 €. And since October, I haven't had to change any bulb yet. I think they're worth it (as long as your electricity supply is stable and you don't have to keep buying new ones.) What will Kenner do for their toy ovens that cook using the heat from an incandescent light bulb? They make such great Devil's Food Cake!

Answer 3

They ARE fluorescent bulbs, just in a different form factor. They work by electrically exciting mercury ions, which then emit ultraviolet light. That UV light strikes the phosphor coating, which fluoresces and emits visible light. If this coating were made thick enough to block all the UV, it would also block much of the visible light, making the lamp less efficient. You will need to make tradeoffs among energy efficiency, how long you illuminate the photos, and how long you want the photos to last.

Modern high quality digital photo prints are made using archival inks which are very resistant to fading. I see many artists displaying very large quality prints in direct sunlight for days.

Answer 4

I have been using compact florescent bulbs for about 10 years now, and none of my photos have faded. I have shades on all of my lamps, and glass over my photos, so there may be something to that though. If you are concerned about your photos fading out, you can invest a little bit in UV glass. It will also protect your photos from sunlight, and considering 1 compact florescent bulb will last for years, the little bit of extra money on new glass for your photos balances out.

Answer 5

They are standard fluorescents, just in a different form-factor. However, if you have a diffuser or something over the bulb, it may reduce the amount of UV that makes it to the photo.

This site actually tested the fading effect of CFL bulbs on inkjet prints and found them just as bad as regular fluorescents: http://www.nifty-stuff.com/inkjet-fading.php

Answer 6

All light fades photos just at different rates.

Look up the ones you are thinking of buying online and see if anyone else has found that they have faded anything more than a normal lightbulb would.

Answer 7

All light fades photos.

Except the low frequency red light of a dark room.

Answer 8

YES, YES, yes!, They emit UV or ULTRAVIOLET light derived from Mercury vapor, the sellers are trying to trick the USA into buying them alll up before they ban them al together.

I have used several over the past 2-3- years and they always burn out early, i BUY soft whit light for indoor lighting best way to go. I would not ever buy those things are not made well and they contain mercury vapor, don't let anyone tell you different.

Answer 9

Good question. Some will, some won't.

There are ones that are designed to emit light much like incandescent bulbs, and have glass formulated to reduce UV.

http://www.gelighting.com/na/home_lighting/ask_us/faq_compact.htm#hazardous_uv

Answer 10

No... That is all I use and I have been using them for years. They actually help to reserve them if you ask me...